Fluke season ended with a whimper last week due to the approaching nor’easter.
I hope everyone came through last week’s long-duration nor’easter with little or no damage to property or boats. Most of our coastal communities saw significant flooding, and beach erosion ranged from minor to major across much of South Jersey. Anglers who got back out after the blow found good sea bass bites on the inshore reefs and wrecks. The bag limit is back up to 10 fish per angler, so get the vacuum sealer and bags ready.
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The backwaters have cooled significantly, and that’s given the striped bass bite a huge boost. Schoolies are hitting poppers and soft plastics along the marshes, in the tidal creeks, and around bridges. Crabs and blowfish are still around in most of Barnegat Bay. Tog fishing was slow because the water is still murky, but once it clears, the bite should get back to where it was before the storm.
A few headboats and private boats ran to the canyons for tuna, but the bite has been very slow since the storm, with just a few mahi and skipjack caught. Hopefully that strong low-pressure system wasn’t the nail in the coffin for the fall pelagic season.
This Week’s Rundown
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River took advantage of the downtime to stock the shop with fall striper gear, from jigs to plugs and plastics. Fishing has been slower along the beach, with a few bluefish caught, but the water still needs to clean up. Striped bass are more active behind Island Beach State Park and in some of the marshes on the west side of the bay.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a very slow week, since the bayside communities got hit pretty hard by the storm. Anglers working the bay found a few striped bass and even fewer tautog around the inlet, but overall the action has been slow. Boat anglers reported better sea bass bites, though the shop said you have to work through some short fish.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown ran a 3-hour bay charter two days after the storm. The water was a tad dirty, but after trying a few spots, the group boxed more than 40 blowfish in short order. The ocean sea bass trips for Friday and Saturday were canceled, since the wind is supposed to crank up again. The crew will fish the bay for a mix of species whenever the ocean is too rough for sea bass.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light was tied to the dock for most of the week and weekend because of the blow. The skipper plans to resume sea bass charters this week, and if the tuna bite picks back up, the boat will head to the canyons. Check their website or give them a call for scheduling.
TackleDirect in Egg Harbor Township reported an ultra-slow tuna bite in the canyons, with some mahi landed and even fewer yellowfin. Bay action was fair, with some striped bass caught in the back marshes and tidal creeks. Yellow and white poppers were the hot choice this week, and dusk was the better bite. There wasn’t much surf action, mostly because few anglers were fishing it, but that should change this week.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had slower reports this past week as the ocean and bay finally began to calm down. Striped bass have become more active with the drop in bay temperatures. The shop said small plugs and poppers, about 4 to 5 inches long, have been working in the late afternoon and evening. Boats that ran out into the ocean this week reported good sea bass fishing on the inshore reefs.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point was busy helping out boats at the marina during and after the storm. The tog bite, which was hot before the blow, cooled off because of poor water clarity. A few tide cycles and some favorable winds should clear things up and get the bite going again. Schoolie stripers are hitting topwaters and plugs along the bay marshes, and the shop advises working the dropping tide for hungry bass.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City made it through the storm, and the skipper liked the drop in bay temperatures because it has the striped bass in play. They’ve become much more active since last week’s blow. Sea bass are on the inshore reefs and are in play on calmer days, too.
Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City is in transition as the captain makes his annual trek up to Montauk. On the Jersey side, it was a rough week as most folks recover from the blow, but sea bass are biting on the reefs and striped bass are in the bay.
The Cape May and Fortescue areas had reports of striped bass in the bay, mostly in the 14- to 22-inch range. They’re hitting worked poppers and plugs at the mouths of the tidal creeks that line the west side of the bay. The white perch bite kicked off on bloodworms just before the storm and should continue as the water cools.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The weekend offers a few options, since the dip in water temperatures has kick-started some of our resident bass into stronger feeding. Most lagoons are still loaded with decent-sized peanut bunker, which have been splashing around as the bay waters clean up. Work points, drop-offs, and the mouths of tidal creeks for striped bass during the early or late tides. I like casting small plugs around the creeks, while poppers work well on our coastal bay flats.
Surf anglers can give it a shot with clams or bunker, but the water may still be a tad warm, and you might have to fight through some smooth doggies (smooth dogfish) and skates. Ocean anglers on private boats, charters, or head boats can look forward to good action on the sea bass grounds.
Let’s hope the storm has jump-started a fantastic fall fishing season. Put down the pumpkin spice latte, grab your gear, and head for the brine. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!